ToI (represented at the meeting by its executive editor Arindam Sengupta) reported that in response to a question, the PM had:

“agreed that Beijing could be tempted to use India’s ‘soft underbelly,’ Kashmir, and Pakistan ‘to keep India in low-level equilibrium….’ China would like to have a foothold in South Asia and we have to reflect on this reality.”

Turns out the PM’s comment was off-the-record, and the PM’s description of Kashmir as India’s “soft underbelly” was actually the questioner’s.

What’s not clear is whether Mr. Singh’s bad experience with the media will force him back in to his shell. “The idea was our friends in the media should have access to the prime minister,” the senior Indian government official said. “This is a bit of a setback.”

Obviously, there were some pre-arranged rules for the interaction. However, was the PM too trustful of the media on the hot-button issue of the day (China) on which two of his ministerial colleagues (Jairam Ramesh and P. Chidambaram) sparred openly and noisily?

Outlook Business* did a cover story on Sahara India, the controversial chit fund company which now builds malls and homes, sponsors the Indian cricket team and owns an IPL franchise, and has a strange relationship with Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Ambani, in its August 21 issue.

The story, by John Samuel Raja D and Sudipto Dey, found holes in Sahara’s draft red herring prospectus (DHRP) that is a precursor for a company’s initial public offering (IPO).

Sahara’s reaction? It has not only sued Outlook Business* for Rs 200 crore, but taken out expensive ads in many newspapers saying it has done so.